Eric Mack On-Line

I recently blogged
about MindManager,
and how I have been using it for a variety of business applications. As
a technologist, I really enjoy evaluating new software and hardware in
order to advise my clients. On the personal side, I am planning to teach
our Jr.
Robotics team how to use MindManager,
ResultManager, and even OneNote to help them capture and manage their ideas
for the competition. (More on this and a link to the girl's blog soon.)

For the past 8 weeks, I have been noting my progress using MindManager
exclusively as a note-taking tool for a New Testament Survey course that
I have just completed. I wanted to see if I could take an entire course,
using only mind maps as my knowledge capture tool. I also wanted to see
if the visual capture, representation, and retrieval of information could
be accomplished in real-time, on my laptop, as efficiently as I have been
able to do in the past by hand...

Mind mapping has helped me increase my understanding of the material that
I studied; it also improved my ability to quickly recall information in
context. It was easy for me to visually organize the topical relationship
between my notes - both while I was studying as well as in review.

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I found that taking notes in class on my ThinkPad was easy, however, I
was concerned that it might be distracting to the professor or to others
in the room. (Michael
Hyatt has addressed some of
this in his post on why
he bought a TabletPC.) Therefore,
for the first part of this experiment, I primarily used MindManager outside
of class to make maps of each book as I read and studied them.

One unexpected result of making mind maps for everything that I read
or studied, was that it increased my study-time. However, It also increased
my ability to recall information, so it was well worth it. I attribute
this to the ease with which it was possible to go into greater detail --
sometimes much more than was required for the course. I found that it
is simply more fun to study a visual map of my knowledge rather than a
page of notes in linear form. Ultimately, I did have to limit the scope
of my maps, based on my available time. Again, this is not a flaw in the
methodology or the technology -- just me, learning how to best adapt these
tools to my needs.

I consider my experiment, creating visual outlines in real-time, to have
been a success.

Both my note-taking and my studies of the Scriptures have been enhanced
as a result. Mind Manager, as a capture tool, facilitated the process greatly.
I am starting to add ResultManager
into the mix so that I can capture assignments and actions in real-time.

In addition to the digital maps on my laptop, I now have a 3-ring binder
at home with large fold-out maps on each book I have studied and its background.
(Yes, I know, I could keep the maps on my computer, but I still like the
feel of flipping through paper.) I'm sure that when I get a TabletPC, I
will think differently. (Open invitation for Marc
or Michael
to respond.)

For the student in us all, I highly recommend visual mapping as a study
aid; MindManager
is my tool of choice to create and manage my maps.

Eric

*The source materials I used for the course were, the New English Translation
(NET Bible), as well as two reference texts: Survey of the New Testament,
by Paul N. Benware, and The MacArthur Bible Handbook, by John MacArthur.

Discussion/Comments (7):

There is certainly a tactile pleasure to looking through any study material on paper and if you find that it enhances your ability to retain information, I say go for it.

What appeals to me about the Tablet PC in this context is portability and searchability - two things that begin to break down when you start using paper as a repository. Binders of printed mind maps and other study material become increasingly burdensome as you add more information. Digital files don't make my Tablet PC any heavier, no matter how many I add.

I can find anything in my maps using MindManager's search capabilities in a matter of seconds by searching across a number of maps which I can load or unload using the multi-map function in the program.

But paper does have it's place - make no doubt about it. It's one thing for a discussion group to look up at the wall at a projected mind map and quite another for them to scribble their own notes and questions on a print out. Like so many things, context is a big deciding factor in what presentation medium works best for your mind maps.

You know, I wonder how effective of a tool MindManager would be for a pastor preparing a sermon. You've mentioned that you occasionally do some teaching, Eric. Have you ever used it to prepare for a class? As a pastor, I would think that it could be a very powerful tool for mapping out sermons and lessons.

Tory, I believe that MindManager, like any good outliner, would be an excellent tool for lesson preparation.

The advantage that MindManager offers to lesson (or presentation) planning is the visual element. I find that the ability to quickly and easily move branches and elements of thought help the development of ideas and make it easier to develop a presentation that flows naturally. The big shift (for me) when brainstorming is elimination of the need to think linearly. Rather, I can collect my thoughts as they occur and place them into context.

Here's how I would recommend getting started: 1) Write the key theme of your topic middle main topic box. 2) in subordinate boxes, write the supporting topics that you can think of. (No need to be complete at this time, as you can add elements as you think of them.) 3) for each of the subtopics, think about the supporting information (references, stories, quotes, etc.) that you may want to mention and add those elements. Repeat this process as needed until you have fully developed your topic. 4) Now working clock-wise, review and organize the material as needed. 5) Finally, export your MindManager map to Word or PowerPoint and edit to suit.